Tag Archives: money

ALL THAT GLITTERS Richard Alan harborgoldsmith@comcast.net Season on Marco Island is in full swing, and I survived another Valentine’s Day rush that required my son and me only a couple of nights burning the midnight oil in the work shop. It was the smoothest, hassle free and profitable Valentine week I can ever remember! While in the process of investigating and individually interrogating my sales staff I found the reason it was not the normal yearly, chaotic Valentine’s experience… One thing stood out…Endless Jewelry. I mentioned that I had seen the Endless Jewelry line while in Europe last summer. It ... Read More »

By Pat Newman Tax season always turns my attention back to spending habits—mine and others. I am not exactly a Ms. Moneybags, nor a penniless pauper. I am somewhere in between. I lust after BOGO sales and celebrate when gas prices drop below $3.00. But I can also shock my debit card with a hefty swipe after a “big occasion” dinner out with family and friends. New Year’s resolutions included a personal promise to monitor my daily spending and figure out why there was always more month than money. I am still working on that, but I determined that spending ... Read More »

Tasty treats from Marco Islands very own “STONEWALLS fine food fast” “We use only the freshest ingredients and serve upscale food favorites” says owner Kim Burke, family owned and operated since 2012. STONEWALLS will join us to pair a food item with a wine choice from our world wide collection here at Marco Island Florist and Gifts We are also very pleased to announce a very special guest star MAGIC BY JOHN ROBERT. MAGIC, ILLUSIONS, & WORLD-CLASS SLEIGHT OF HAND. JOHN ROBERT from right here in sunny Naples, Florida. Magician John Robert provides jaw dropping magic and a professionalism at ... Read More »

By Coastal Breeze News Staff When it comes to building your own home, there are a number of lessor known — but vitally important — precautions that property owners must take to protect themselves, their properties and their bank accounts. According to Florida law (Florida Statute 713, Part 1), those who work on a property or provide materials, and are not paid-in-full, have a right to enforce their claim for payment against said property. Further, if a contractor fails to pay subcontractors or material suppliers, the people who are owed money may look to the property owner for payment, even if ... Read More »

By Coastal Breeze News Staff What makes a good home? Sturdy walls, hurricane-rated windows, fine and fancy appliances. What makes a smart home? One that can utilize simple concepts and smart technology while actually saving the homeowner money. Ask Steve A. Hennell of Steven A. Hennell Inc., Custom Home Building and Remodeling. Last year, the Marco Island custom home builder won the Aurora Award for “Green New Construction” at the 2014 Southeast Building Conference (SEBC) for his Florida Green Building Certified Model Home at 316 Bald Eagle Drive. The home now serves as the model center for Hennell and consists ... Read More »

Ask The CFP® Practitioner Darcie Guerin darcie.guerin@raymondjames.com “If you want to go fast…go alone. If you want to go far…go together.” — African Proverb Question: My financial affairs are in good shape, although they might be a bit random and unintentional. I know I need a plan, yet I’m afraid that if I do make changes I’ll do something wrong. World affairs are so volatile, the economy is uncertain, interest rates are low and the stock market is so high; what should I do? Answer: It sounds like you’re in the right frame of mind to prioritize, organize and gain ... Read More »

Donna Fiala donnafiala@colliergov.net Our Annual Town Hall Gathering with Commissioner Donna Fiala and a host of others will be held on Wednesday, Feb. 18, 5:30 PM, at the Marco Island Historical Society’s Rose Hall Auditorium. The museum has been kind enough to host these events ever since they opened, and we are so grateful. It’s a great place to hold a community “get together.” Along with Donna, you will meet County Manager Leo Ochs, who will give an overview of the county. Nick Casalanguida, the administrator for the County’s Growth Management Division, will update you on the construction taking place ... Read More »

BEYOND THE COAST Tarik Ayasun tayasun@taray.com The dots we have been talking about for so long are beginning to connect. According to the US State Department, Iran has emerged as the worst state sponsor of terrorism in the world. This evil state run by Mullahs from another century supplies money, weapons and personnel to Hezbollah, Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad. Their stated goal is the destruction of the state of Israel — our one and only true ally in the Middle East, if not the entire world. To achieve this goal, they have been busy at work trying to develop nuclear ... Read More »

ALL THAT GLITTERS Richard Alan No, it’s not a misprint; I’m talking about Valentines Day. It’s not only a word that irks most warm-blooded male Homo-sapiens, but it’s also an important event. The contents of my column today are directed at the guys out there, who may need a nudge or a wake-up call, so ladies, if you don’t mind moving on to another more interesting article. Oh sure, many of us guys try to ignore it or even claim to have forgotten the day of infamy. Trust me, though, we males are always aware of the inevitable day on the ... Read More »

By Coastal Breeze News Staff The San Marco Catholic Church held its “Rainbow of Fashions” Jan. 28. The Parish Hall was full to the brim with almost 300 ladies of all faiths in attendance. This is truly an “event” of the season with many of the ladies themselves dressed fashionably and ready for fun. You can be sure an annual event has been happening for many years when no one can recall just how long. That was cleared up quickly when the fashion presenters were greeted and Kay from Kay’s on the Beach, who mentioned they would be celebrating their ... Read More »

By Noelle H. Lowery noelle@coastalbreezenews.com The beautiful Southwest Florida winter weather brought the Marco Island community out in droves on Saturday, Jan. 31, to the Marco Island Chamber of Commerce’s Third Annual Souper Bowl-Marco 2015. The event, which raises funds for the Leadership Marco Scholarship Fund through the sale of original, hand-painted soup bowls, entertained and fed more than 1,000 islanders. In fact, folks were lined up a half-hour before the 11 AM start, and received a front row seat of the event preparations, which included CJ’s on the Bay Chef Laura Owen testing all of the soups to make ... Read More »

READ MY TIPS Doug Browne dbrowne912@aol.com Tim Smyczek’s (pronounced Smeecheck) recent gesture at this year’s Australian Open (Grand Slam) not only earned the respect of his top-ranked opponent but also of the entire tennis world. Leading 6-5 in the fifth and deciding set and the score 30 love, Rafael Nadal was serving when a disrespectful fan screamed just as he was hitting his first serve. Nadal badly missed the shot. Within seconds, Milwaukeean Smyczek told the umpire that Nadal should get another serve. Nadal appreciated this act of kindness and set up to serve again with two serves coming. To put ... Read More »

ALL THAT GLITTERS Richard Alan harborgoldsmith@comcast.net I don’t know. Sometimes, it feels like I am a rock; I am an island, not just living and working on one. Heck, I can go weeks — even months — without even leaving the island! I just finally realized I’m not a kid anymore. (My AARP membership proves it without a doubt!) Even so, one of my customers called me “kiddo” the other day. For crying out loud, I’ll be 61 soon. When will people finally consider me as being a full-fledged adult? I’m told I don’t look my age. I sure feel it! ... Read More »

Ask The CFP® Practitioner Darcie Guerin darcie.guerin@raymondjames.com “It has become appallingly obvious that our technology has exceeded our humanity.” — Albert Einstein (1879-1955) Question: According to the news, it appears that cybercrime and identity theft are on the rise. What can we do to protect ourselves? Answer: You’re right; these types of crime are on the rise. The Federal Trade Commission reports that between 2011 and 2013, odds increased by 65 percent that if you were notified of an online data compromise, you’d become an actual victim of identity theft. Because that’s where the money is. Willie Sutton (1901-1980) the notorious ... Read More »

By Don Manley Clay pigeons were the prey for 65 marksmen who blasted away with varying degrees of success to raise money for Marco Island Academy. The occasion was the Bill Rose Memorial Sporting Clays Classic held Jan. 17 at Gulf Coast Clays at Port of the Islands, formerly the Port of the Islands Gun Club. About 12,000 was raised for MIA through participant registration fees, sponsorships, and silent and live auctions. A Marco resident, successful businessman — he founded Rose Marina — philanthropist, avid boater and flier, and former US Marine, Rose passed away in 2010 at the age ... Read More »

By Don Manley They came, they grilled and in the end, big fun was had by all. Such was the lot of the contestants, the judges and the bevy of enthusiastic onlookers who turned out for the Marco Island Brewery’s Fourth Annual Rib Cook-Off, which benefits the Marco Police Foundation Scholarship Fund. The Brewery-sponsored event saw eight contenders vie to be selected as one of the three preparers most skilled in barbecuing that gustatory delight — the pork rib. In the end, it was cook-off newcomer Jim Gratkowski of Gratkowski Painting Contractors, who snagged the first-place trophy with a recipe ... Read More »

Officer Reams coordinated FWC Officers and Officers from the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service for a special detail to focus on enforcement of Migratory Bird hunting regulations. The detail covered several locations throughout Collier County, simultaneously, in order to consistently conduct inspections countywide. Also, plain clothed Officers were utilized to monitor the waters in order to witness violations firsthand. The Officers were successful in their enforcement and were able to enforce multiple regulation violations that ranged from infractions to misdemeanors. Officer Barringer responded to a call involving a whitetail deer that was stuck inside a swimming pool in the Golden ... Read More »

Florida lawmakers today renewed their push to win congressional action on a major Everglades restoration project that has been mired in bureaucratic red tape. The bipartisan group of federal legislators – led by Sens. Bill Nelson (D-FL) and Marco Rubio (R-FL) and Reps. Patrick Murphy (FL-18) and David Jolly (FL-13) – filed a bill Thursday to authorize the Central Everglades Planning Project, or CEPP. CEPP is designed to increase water flow south into the Everglades, thereby reducing harmful discharges to the St. Lucie and Caloosahatchee rivers and improving the entire ecosystem. This important project was not included in the last ... Read More »

Submitted Join the party to find out why boaters have more fun at the Marco Island Sail and Power Squadron (MISPS) Wine and Hors d’Oeuvres Party on Friday, Jan. 23, 5:00-7:30 PM, at the San Marco Catholic Church Parish Center. Everyone is invited to come and enjoy great food and fine wine while contributing to a good cause. Tickets are $20 per person at the door, in advance for cash or check by contacting Peggy Harsch, event chairman, at 239-394-3484. The annual Wine and Hors d’Oeuvres Party is the Marco Island Sail and Power Squadron’s major fundraiser. All of the ... Read More »